Ask an Expert: Planning

How much time should I allow for the wedding breakfast when working out what time to invite my evening guests?

I generally work on around 2.5 hours for the wedding breakfast, including 3 short-ish speeches. If you have fewer or more speeches you may want to adjust the time allowed. Equally if you have a very small number of guests or a very high number you will... Read more

Is it acceptable to serve tap water to guests? My caterer seems to think we should use bottled.

It is not surprising that they would prefer you to use bottled as it means that they can charge you for it but if you are on a budget then tap water is perfectly acceptable. Whichever you use, ensure that there is enough water throughout the day to keep... Read more

Do I need a master of ceremony? I don’t have one at the moment but think I may need one?

A master of ceremony is traditionally a very formal role. I do think an MC is essential however in most cases a hotel manager, friend or usher can do the role very well and often add a touch of humour to the proceedings and is far more informal than an... Read more

What is a groom cake? My American friend has asked me if we are having one and I haven’t even heard of it!

A groom’s cake is an American tradition and is a cake that has either been chosen by the groom or created with his tastes and hobbies in mind. It is very different from the tiered wedding cake and is often novelty in design. It can be served at the... Read more

The venue we are using has really ugly chairs. My mum thinks that we need to hire chair covers but I think we can avoid it and save money as once the decorations are all up the chairs won’t be so obvious. What do you think?

I think that the cost of chair covers in the context of an overall wedding budget is relatively small and it will make a huge impact to the overall look you are trying to achieve. I am afraid that however beautiful the décor there is a good chance that... Read more

I saw some vintage linen wedding invitations in a magazine a while ago but can’t find the article. Do you know where I can find these?

I suspect you may be talking about The Vintage Draw where you can find a range of bespoke stationery created using beautiful vintage textiles. If that was not what you had in mind there are a range of different suppliers who may be able to help on Etsy. Read more

I have seen moustaches on sticks for photo booths which I think are really fun. Where can I buy these?

There is a good selection on Etsy. Pipii also carry some of these. It is worth including the cost of postage when working out which ones or how many you want to purchase. Read more

We have a vegan at our wedding. Do we need to provide them with an alternative to the wedding cake?

There is no obligation to do this but it would be a nice touch. You may want to ask your cake designer if they can provide a little something. Alternatively a pretty packet of sweets would be a very simple alternative but it will let your guest know that... Read more

We are getting married in 2015 but haven’t set a date. We really don’t mind what time of year it is. When do you think is best?

Each couple is individual with their own priorities so there is no one set time of year that suits everyone. If you are very focussed on the budget, a winter wedding may be best (avoiding Christmas). If you have your heart set on a particular type of... Read more

Is it essential that we serve champagne at the wedding? We were thinking of substituting sparkling wine but my parents are dead against it. Obviously there is a big cost difference.

I always think that champagne adds a lovely touch of luxury to any celebration but it does come at a price. I would look at the issue in the context of your overall budget to see if it is something that you can afford. It may be that it is important for... Read more